Electric page turner



Oct 17, 1950 v. cAiRPEN'rER 2,526,540

ELECTRIC PAGE TURNER Filed Dec, 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I IN VEN TOR. fan ara ll Carpenfen BY HrTaRNEY 1950 E. v. CARPENTER 2,526,540

' ELECTRIC PAGE TURNER Filed Dec. 7, $946 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Edward 1/ Carpen fer- HTTORNEY letented Oc UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC PAGE TURNER Edward V. Carpenter, Cherokee, Iowa Application December 7, 1946, Serial No. 714,882

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a page turning device.

An object of my invention is to provide a page turning device which is electrically operated, and which is adaptable for use by persons who are paralyzed, or otherwise incapacitated to the extent that they do not have the normal use of their hands or other limbs for turning the pages of a book.

A further object of my invention is to provide a page turning device which is positive in operation, and which is actuated by means of a simple electric switch, requiring only a minimum of pressure, so that the operator of the device need only press the switch with the foot, or apply pressure at any other portion of the body wherever such pressure can be obtained.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement which will operate on various thicknesses of books, and which will perform the page turning operation regardless of the number of pages already turned.

A further object of my invention is to provide the foregoing objects in a simple construction.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the arrangement,

Figure 2 is a side view taken in section substantially along the lines 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 taken substantially along the lines 33 thereof,

Figure 4 is a detail of Figure 3 taken along the lines 4-4 thereof,

Figure 5 is a detail of the penetrating needle,

Figure 6 is a forward view of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit employed in the arrangement,

Figure 8 is a modification of a detail, and

Figure 9 is a further modification.

My invention contemplates the provision of an arrangement for turning the pages of books, and whereby such turning can be effected through the use of mechanical and electrical arrangements so that a paralyzed patient who has not the. normal use of the hands can readily turn the pages of the book, thereby not requiring the assistance of nurses or other persons.

I have used the character I 0 to designate a flat board or platform which is preferably mounted at an angle from the vertical as shown clearly in Figure 2, the platform I0 including the upper,

extending portion II, and attached to the platform H] are the forward legs I2, and the rearward longer legs I3 which are braced by means of the cross members I4, thus providing a rigid structure. The dotted lines character I5 designates possible extensions of the legs, in the event that it is desired to use the arrangement at higher levels or on easels, etc.

Attached beneath the flat member I 0 at iii are the straps I1 which are attached at I8 to an electric motor I 9 which is of the fractional horsepower type and which motor includes a speed reducing gear box 20 to reduce the speed of the device to the required amount, with a shaft 2I extending from the gear box. Attached to the shaft 2| is a collar 22 to which is attached at 23 an extending arm 24 having the rounded extremity 25. An insulating plate 26 is attached beneath the platform I0, and the plate 26 includes a contact 21 attached thereto which passes to suitable leads, as is more fully set forth in the diagram Figure 7. A further lead is attached to a pivotal bearing 28 which bearing 28 is connected at 29 to the upwardly and angularly extending strap member 30 which is attached at 3I to the extending lip 32, which lip 32 in stationary position is in contact with the head 25 of the rod 24, to break the contact between the member 36 and the contact 21. A helical tension spring 33 is attached to the member 30 at 34 and to an extension of the member 26 at 35, this spring thereby serving to exert pressure toward closing of the circuit.

Pivoted at 36 beneath the platform I0 is an arm 31 having the twisted portion at 36, a stop member 39 being attached to the platform I0 to limit strains or extreme movements of the member 31. The member 31 continues into the angularly inclined further portion 40 which is attached at M to a thin cable 42 passing through an eye 43, which eye is attached beneath the platform It], the cable 42 continuing where it is attached at 44 to the end of a rod 45, which rod extends upwardly through a slot 46 in the plat form ID, the rod then being bent around the securing screw 4'! and thence continuing into the page retaining bar 48 terminating in the end 49, the bar 48 including the weighted member 50. The screw at 41 is attached to a pivotal shaft 5| which rotates within a bearing 52 which bearing is secured in the upstanding member 53 which is attached at 54 to the platform I0. Positioned against the lower edge 55 of the platform I0 is the book supporting flange 56 which is attached to a Strap 5'! which is adjustably secured by means of a wing nut 58, to provide for various sizes of books, etc.

Further attached to the collar 22 see Fig. 2) is a further shaft 59 which is attached at 60 to the member 6| which is attached to a bearing 62 which pivotally receives a short stub shaft 53 which is attached to the strap 64. Attached to the strap 54 at 65 and 66 are the arms 67 and 63, the arms 61 extending into the downwardly bent portion 69 which terminates .in the portion 10, the portion l being adapted to retain'the left hand pages as viewed from Figure 1, the rod 68 terminating in the backwardly bent portion H, the purpose of which will be explained later.

The strap 64 extends into the downwardly bent portion 12 (see Figures and 6) .and attached to the portion 12 is a socket member 13 having an opening 14 for the reception of a comparatively fine needle l5, the needle having apenetrat-ing point 76, which point is preferably bent slightly toward the direction of travel of the member 64. A thumbscrew T! retains the needle in its receiving opening.

Attached at 18 to the platform I0 is a continuous cam member indicated generally by the character 79, which cam member includes the respective portions llfl, 8i and-82, the portion -8l-being nearly vertical from the platform, and the portion 8| being substantially parallel to the plat form and yet rising toward the upper termination of the portion 82, and with the portion 82 sloping downwardly where it is attached at 83 to the platform l0.

Attached at 84 to the platform 10 is anarcuate upwardlyextending guide strap 85 which terminates at 85.

Attached at 81 to the platform NJ is an upstanding support 83 including a bearing 89 in which is pivoted a shaft 90 and attached to the short shaft 99 at 9| is the downwardly, and angularly positioned bar 92 which terminates at 93 where it normally rests upon the right hand sheet of the book as viewed from Figure 1.

Suitably connected into the circuit Figure '7 is a small contact switch 94 (see Fig. 1) which can be of any spring type, and whereby pressure against the same will actuate the circuit.

Now that the structure of my device has been explained, I shall explain the operation thereof.

The book which is indicated generally by the character 95 is opened, the lower'edges thereof being placed against the ledge 56. The book is also placed so that the extending portion 70 is against the left hand edge of the left hand upper leaf of the book, and with the curved bar '92 being placed so that the termination 93 thereof is against the upper right hand leaf, and as shown in Figure 1. The patient, or operator, then presses the switch 93 through the agency of the foot, a slight arm pressure, or any other means, which closes the circuit and starts the motor IS. The reduction gearing causes the collar 22 to rotate at a slower speed, and as soon as thebar 24 through the rounded head clears the porticn 32, the spring 33 will pull the member into contact making position between the points 28 and 2! which thereby maintains the circuit in its closed position so that the motor will continue to operate. The extending bar 64 will first ride along the portion 8! of the cam wire member 19, until it travels around this portion and thence approaches the portion 82 of the cam, at which point the arm will start to descend, the weight of the arm maintaining it in engagement with the cam.

As the arm 84 descends toward the dotted position shown in Figure 1, the projecting portion II will momentarily bear against the angularly positioned bar 94, and at practically the same time the point 76 of the needle 15 will penetrate slightly into the upper right hand leaf of the book. The pressure of the rotating arm 64, etc. through the agency of the portion II also has the effect of momentarily retarding the needle so that it will not penetrate too deeply, and as soon as the needle penetrates the page, the continued motion of the arm 64 will cause the page to turn toward the left, and the curved arcuate member 85 will then start to carry the arm 84 upwardly, the point still being in contact with the page. As soon as the arm 64 clears the end 86 of the member 85, the arm will drop carrying the portion 10 downwardly against the leaf which has been turned.

At'the same time that the above action occurs, the arm 24 will strike against the portion 38 of the pivoted lever member 3": forcing the lever in the direction of the arrow 96 and atthe'same time pulling on the cable 42 by virtue of its attachment at 6|, which draws the bar 45 toward the left as viewed from Figure 1, this action raising the arm 48, so that the page will be allowed to be carried under this arm 48, the arm then dropping by virtue of its weight onto the page and holding it in place. The arm 24 then passes to the position shown in Figure '3, the abutment of the portion 25 against the member 32 again opening th circuit, at which point the moving parts of the arrangement will come to rest, until both of the exposed pages are read by the operator, and the action is thence repeated at the necessary intervals until the entire book is finished. The weight of the bar 92, and thebar 48 are made sufficient so that the pivoting actions will occurfreely.

Figure 8 shows a slight modification wherein the needle can be replaced by means of a smallbar 91 to which is attached a small roughened rubber gripping member 98 for 'slidingor moving the right hand page beneath the bar 92, and Figure 9 illustrates a. further modification wherein a needle 99 includes the shoulder at I00 and the small penetrating point H)! for limiting the amount of penetration into the page. Any of these modifications can be employed, although I have found the penetrating needle to be the bestfor the purpose, and in some cases the member 98 can include a slight amount of adhesive substance for carrying the leaf through its motion.

It will now be seen that I have provided the advantages mentioned in the objects of my invention with further advantages being readily apparent.

Some changes maybe made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of myinvention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric page turner comprising a book supporting platform, an electric motor attached beneath said platform, a rotatable shaft driven by said motor extending through said platform, an arm attached at the end of said rotatable shaft, means attached at th extremity of said arm to engage individual pages of said book and to turn said pages during rotation of said arm,

a cam formed surface attached to said platform against which said arm bears, said cam surface adapted to raise said arm from an already turned page and thence cause said arm to descend towarda page to be turned, a further curved cam member attached to said platform and positioned adjacent to said cam surface to provide means for raising said arm when said page is turned, said arm adapted to drop over the extremity of said cam member after said page is turned, said arm including an extending bar attached thereto for retaining pages already turned, a retaining bar pivotally attached to said platform and adapted to rest upon the pages to be turned, a further extending bar attached to said arm adapted to momentarily bear against said retaining bar during downward movement of said arm, said page engaging means including a needle member having a sharpened point for partially penetrating said pages, a further retaining bar pivotally at tached to said platform for forcing turned pages downwardly, means connected between said further retaining bar and said motor to actuate said further retaining bar.

2. An electric page turner comprising a book supporting platform, an electric motor attached beneath said platform, a rotatable shaft driven by said motor extending through said platform, an arm attached at the end of said rotatable shaft, means attached at th extremity of said arm to engage individual pages of said book and to turn said pages during rotation of said arm, a cam formed surface attached to said platform against which said arm bears, said cam surface adapted to raise said arm from an already turned page and thence cause said arm to descend toward a page to be turned, a further curved cam member attached to said platform andpositioned adjacent to said cam surface to provide means for raising said arm when said page is turned, said arm adapted to drop over the extremity of said cam member after said page is turned, said arm including an extending bar attached thereto for retaining pages already turned, a retaining bar pivotally attached to said platform and adapted to rest upon the pages to be turned, a furhter extending bar attached to said arm adapted to momentarily bear against said retaining bar during downward movement of said arm, said page engaging means including a needle member having a sharpened point for partially penetrating said pages, a further retaining bar pivotally attached to said platform for forcing turned pages downwardly, means connected between said further retaining bar and said motor to actuate said further retaining bar, including a cable secured to a bent extension of said further retaining bar, a pivoted lever member attached to said cable, a bar attached to said rotatable shaft adapted to bear against said pivoted lever member for thereby actuating said further retaining bar.

3. An electric page turner comprising a book supporting platform, an electric motor attached beneath said platform, a rotatable shaft driven by said motor extending through said platform, an arm attached at the end of said rotatable shaft, means attached at the extremity of said arm to engage individual pages of said book and to turn said pages during rotation of said arm, a cam formed surface attached to said platform against which said arm bears, said cam surface adapted to raise said arm from an already turned page and thence cause said arm to descend toward a page to be turned, a further curved cam member attached to said platform and positioned adjacent to said cam surface to provide means for raising said arm when said page is turned, said arm adapted to drop over the extremity of said cam member after said page isturned, said arm including an extending bar attached there-. to for retaining pages already turned, a retaining bar pivotally attached to said platform and adapted to rest upon the pages to be turned, a further extending bar attached to said arm adapted to momentarily bear against said retaining bar during downward movement of said arm, said page engaging means including a needle member having a sharpened point for partially penetrating said pages, a further retaining bar pivotally attached to said platform for forcing turned pages downwardly, means connected between said further retaining bar and said motor to actuate said further retaining bar, including a cable secured to a bent extension of said further retaining bar, a pivoted lever member attached to said cable, a bar attached to said rotatable shaft adapted to bear against said pivoted lever member for thereby actuating said further retaining bar, a switch member attached beneath said platform including a pair of contacts, a spring urged conducting bar pivotally attached to said switch member and resiliently urged towards contact closing position, said conducting bar including an extension attached thereto against which said bar bears for opening the circuit after said arm has completed its page turning rotation.

4. An electric page turner comprising a book supporting platform, an electric motor attached beneath said platform, a rotatable shaft driven by said motor extending through said platform, an arm attached at the end of said rotatable shaft, means attached at the extremity of said arm to engage individual pages of said book and to turn said pages during rotation of said arm, a cam formed surface attached to said platform against which said arm bears, said cam surface adapted to raise said arm from an already turned page and thence cause said arm to descend toward a page to be turned, a further curved cam member attached to said platform and positioned adjacent to said cam surface to provide means for raising said arm when said page is turned, said arm adapted to drop over the extremity of said cam member after said page is turned, said arm including an extending bar attached thereto for retaining pages already turned, a retaining bar pivotally attached to said platform and adapted to rest upon the pages to be turned, a further extending bar attached to said arm adapted to momentarily bear against said retaining bar during downward movement of said arm, said page engaging means including a needle member having a sharpened point for partially penetrating said pages, a further retaining bar pivotally attached to said platform for forcing turned pages downwardly, means connected between said further retaining bar and said motor to actuate said further retaining bar, including a cable secured to a bent extension of said further retaining bar, a pivoted lever member attached to said cable, a bar attached to said rotatable shaft adapted to bear against said pivoted lever member for thereby actuating said further retaining bar, a switch member attached beneath said platform including a pair of contacts, a spring urged conducting bar pivotally attached to said switch member and resiliently urged towards contact closing position, said conducting 7 bar including an extension attached thereto against which said bar bears for opening the circnit after said arm has completed its page turning rotation, an electric switch member for providing completion of an electric circuit to said motor.

EDWARD V. CARPENTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 8 I UNITED STATES PA' 'ENTS Name Date Morand Oc .25, 1910 Broadley Sept. 4 i928 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Oct. 2, 1920 

